Internal-combustion engine



July 31., 1951 Rv c. ALAND 2,562,404

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed May 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. RIG/MRO 0. ALAND iami I AT Ton/vars.

Jy 31, 1951 R. c. ALAND 2,562,404

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed May 9, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FLE Z JNVENTOR. RICHARD 0. ALA/V0 BY jw K July 31, 1951 R. c. ALAND INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 9, 1947 INVENTOR. RICHARD 6. ALA/VD ATTORNEYS.

iatentecl July 3 1, 195?.

Richard C. Aland, Clermont, Fla., assignor to Continental Motors Corporation, .Muskegon, ,Mich a corporation of Virginia,

Application May 9-, 1947-, Serial No. 747,026 6 Claims. (01. 123-90) This invention relates to an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to the valvins mechanism particularly applicable to an engine of the overhead valve type having a plurality of separate, aligned cylinder and cylinder head assemblies.

In internal combustion enginesof the type aforesaid, considerable difficulty has been :encountered in properly lining up the various apertures and bearings so as to support asingle continuous camshaft operable with :all said aligned cylinders.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid diiilculties in the manufacture and maintenance of overhead valve internal combustion engines of the general type as herein illustrated by providing a novel means forenclos- 'ing the camshaft portions spanning the space between the cylinder head structures.

invention may assume, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end view of a -v-type internal'combustion engine of the overhead valve type and more particularly of the type having a plurality of separate aligned cylinder and cylinder head assemblies, 7

Fig. 2 is a vertical fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the engine taken on the line Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view through the cylinder and cylinder head assembly, and showing the bearing structures for supportingsaid valve .actuating'mechanisms taken on the line 3--3 ofFis. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a'further detail sectional view of the bearing structure, taken on the line 4-4 of 'Fig. :2.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with amulticylinder v-type engine of the over he'ad valve type. It will be readily understood, however, that the principles of the invention may be embodied in other types of iii-line multiecylinder internalcombustion engines. In the engine "A" herein illustrated, l0 designates the crankcase to which is secured a plurality of aligned zengine cylinders ll, each having a cylinder head structure 12 secured thereto :by conventional fastening means.

v A crankshaft l5 visrotatably supported by the crankcase in suitable bearings, and a crankshaft gear l6 is drivingly connected to the crankshaft in any suitable manner. A compound layshaft gear I! meshes with the crankshaft gear and carries a beveled gear I 8 meshing with another beveled gear 19, which drives the shaft 2Q, said'shaft being preferably geared to the camshaft 2| by suitable gearing 22. Lubricating oil is fed to the hollow camshaft 2i from the oil duct 23, centrifugal force flowing saidlubricating oil on the inner surface of the camshaft wheresame is fed longitudinally thereof and conducted as desired to various valve actuating mechanisms which are to be lubricated.

The camshaft 2| is supported at one end ina bearing 25 of the camshaft drive housing 26 which housing is secured at its lower end to the crankcase l0 and at its upper end to a cylinder headstructure [2. The novel support for this camshaft, which extends longitudinally of the row of aligned cylinders, comprises a single bearing in each cylinder head structure, and where said camshaft extends between adjacent cylinder head structures, same is housed in an extensible and distortable housing 21 comprising a bellows 28 referred to in the trade as a Sylphon, the flanges 29 of this housing being secured to the cylinder head structures.

This particular bellows type housing completely houses that portion of the camshaft bridging the gap between the cylinder heads, and because of its flexible character, any misalignment ofthe cylinder heads is taken care of by flexing of the bellows and this non-rigid connection does not induce any strains. or stresses on the cylinder heads as might result from a rigid connection re,- quiring a more or less perfect alignment of the side aces of the cylinder heads as well as .the alignment of the bolt holes by which the intermediate housing is fastened to the cylinder heads. The cylinder'head-structure carries a pair of rocker arm supports 30 and 3|, to which are secured the bearing caps .3 0A and 3 IA. These bearing caps support the rocker arm shafts 32 which support the rocker arms 33, which are actuated by means of thecam portions 34 carried ;by the camshaft to operate the intake and exhaust valves 35. The camshaft portion in registration with the recess 36 in bearing cap S IVA has a diameter closely fitting into the recess, while the camshaft portion in registration with the otherbearing cap 30A is appreciably less in diameter as is likewise the diameter ,of the recess 31 in the bearing cap 30A. The recess 3-! is machinedon a diameter which is sumciently large to .have clearance with the camshaft, and is less than the machined diameter of the recess 36, so ,that the bearing cap cannot be assembled to the bearing support 3! when the camshaft is in place; Thus in assemblyof the engine, eithersi-n initial assembly or reassembly after being serviced, the assemblyofthe bearing-cap to its proper support is-assured. Only bearing caps 3 |A carry oil;ducts to, which serve to conduct lubricating oil to the rocker arm shafts. Y

It will thus be observed that the camshaft is in reality supported in one bearing in each,

cylinder head, thereby particularly facilitating manufacturing and assembly of the camshaft in absolute alignment. Reassembly after servicing is accomplished with a minimum of error and with a minimum of time and labor by reason 'of this improved and novel construction.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the artv to which this invention pertains, that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention-"or from the scope of the appended claims. It'iclaLiriied: l'i-Inan internal combustion engine of the "overhead valve type, a plurality of aligned cylinde'r'structures, separate cylinder head structures "secured to each cylinder structure, engine intake and exhaust valve actuating mechanism supported by said cylinder heads and including 'a single cam shaft for said plurality of cylinder and cylinder head assemblies, a single bearing structure carried by each of said cylinder head structures, and separate flexible camshaft housings secured to said cylinder head structures and fenclosing the camshaft portions which bridge the gap between said cylinder head structures.

' 2. In an internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, a plurality of aligned cylinder structures, separate cylinder head structures secured to each cylinder structure, engine 'intake and exhaust valve actuating mechanism supported by said cylinder heads and including a single cam shaft for said plurality of cylinder and cylinder head assemblies, a single bearing structure carried by each of said cylinder head structures, and separate flexible camshaft housings secured to said cylinder head structures and enclosing the camshaft portions which bridge the gap between said cylinder head structures, 'said flexible camshaft housings comprising an intermediate bellows portion permitting lateral flexing and axial distortion of said housings. 3. In a valve actuating mechanism for an'in- 'ternal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, a cylinder head structure for supporting saidvalve actuating mechanism, a camshaft extending transversely of the cylinder head structure and provided with cam means, rocker arms actuated by said cam means, and bearing means for supporting said rocker arms and comprising a pair of bearing bosses and cooperating bearing caps which are spaced longitudinally of the cam shaft, rocker arm shafts supported-by said bearing caps, one only of said bearing boss and cap assemblies provided with bearing means for supporting the camshaft, said camshaft portion in registry with said other bearing boss and cap assembly having a reduced diameter and arranged to have clearance with respect to an aperture carried by said second boss and cap assembly, which aperture has a diameter less than the aperture of said first boss and cap assembly which supports the camshaft.

4. In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type,- a plurality of aligned cylinder structures, separate cylinder head structures secured to each cylinder structure, engine intake and exhaust valve actuating mechanism supported by said cylinder head structures and comprising a single cam shaft for said plurality of cylinder and cylinder head assemblies and provided with cam means, rocker arms actuated by said cam means, and bearing means for supporting said rocker arms and comprising a-pair of bearing bosses and cooperating bearing caps which are spaced longitudinally of the cam shaft, rocker arm shafts supported by said bearing caps, one only of said bearing boss and cap assemblies provided with hearing means for supporting the cam shaft, said cam shaft portion in registry with said other bearing boss and cap assembly having a reduced diameter and arranged to have clearance with respect to an aperture carried by said second boss and cap assembly, which aperture has a diameter less than the aperture of said first boss and cap assembly which supports the camshaft, the'bearing .boss and cap assembly in one cylinder head structure, and which is'provided with bearing means being arranged adjacent to the bearing 'boss and cap assembly in the adjacent cylinder head structure which has an aperture constructed to have clearance with said cam shaft.

5. In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, a plurality of aligned cylinder structures, separate cylinder 'head structures secured to each cylinder structure, engine intake and exhaust valve actuating mechanism supported by said cylinder head structures and comprising a single cam shaft for said plurality of cylinder and cylinder head assemblies and provided with cam means, rocker arms actuated by said cam means, rocker arms actuated by said cam means, and bearing means for supporting said rocker arms and comprising a pair of bearing bosses and cooperating bearin caps which are spaced longitudinally of the cam shaft, rocker arm shafts supported by said bearing caps, one only of said bearing boss and cap assemblies provided with bearing means for supporting the cam shaft, said cam shaft portion in registry with said other bearing boss and cap assembly having a reduced diameter and arranged to have clearance with respect to an aperture carried by said second boss and cap assembly, which aperture has a diameter less than the aperture of said first boss and cap assembly which supports the cam shaft, the bearing boss and cap assembly in one cylinder head structure and which is provided with bearing means being arranged adjacentto the bearing boss and cap assembly in the adjacent cylinder head structure which has an aperture constructed to have clearance with said cam shaft, said cylinder head structures having openings through which said cam shaft extends, which openings have a dimension greater than the dimension of the cam shaft extending therethrough.

6. In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, a plurality of aligned cylinder structures, separate cylinder head structures secured to each cylinder structure, engine intake and exhaust valve actuating mechanism supported by said cylinder head structures and comprising a single cam shaft for said plurality of cylinder and cylinder head assemblies and provided with cam means, rocker arms actuated by said cam means, and bearing means for supporting saidrocker arms and comprising a pair of bearing bosses and cooperating bearing caps which are spaced longitudinally of the cam shaft, rocker arm shafts supported by said bearing caps, one only of said bearing boss and 'cap assemblies provided with hearing means for supporting the cam shaft, said cam shaft portion in' registry with said other bearingboss and ca'p assembly having a reduced diameter and arranged to have clearance with respect to an aperture carried by said second boss and cap assembly, which aperture has a diameter less than the aperture of said first boss and cap assembly which supports the cam shaft, the bearing boss and cap assembly in one cylinder head structure and which is provided with bearing means being arranged adjacent to the bearing boss and cap assembly in the adjacent cylinder head structure which has an aperture constructed to have clearance with said cam shaft, said cylinder head structures having openings through which said cam shaft extends, which openings have a dimension greater than the dimension of the cam shaft extending therethrough, and separate flexible cam shaft housings secured to said cylinder head openings and the cam shaft portions which bridge the gap between said cylinder head structures.

RICHARD C. ALAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,041,303 Knudsen Oct. 15, 1912 1,102,605 Pembroke July '7, 1914 1,266,288 Loomis May 14, 1918 1,399,839 Winton May 11, 1920 1,848,008 Griffith Mar. 1, 1932 2,024,334 Caminez Dec. 17, 1935 

